Cops foil anti-ISA leafleting bid
Andrew Ong | Sep 26, 08 2:46pm
Police broke up an attempted leafleting exercise by a group of activists calling for the abolishment of the Internal Security Act (ISA) today.
MCPX
The Abolish ISA Movement (GMI) had attempted to gather near the Masjid Jamek mosque near Dataran Merdeka to distribute leaflets to the public at noon.
gmi masjid jamek 260908 crowdEven before the GMI activists could gather, the police team led by ASP Sydney Clyde Jeremiah warned GMI co-ordinator E Nalini that loud-hailer and placards could not be used in the gathering.
The activists were however defiant and tried to unfurl a large banner and placards opposite the mosque, prompting the police to swiftly move in to remove the ‘offensive' materials.
"We cannot achieve our target of distributing leaflets and creating public awareness because the police confiscated and stole our banners.
"There will not be any leafleting as the police are everywhere and they might confiscate the materials as well," she told Malaysiakini while gesturing to the plainclothes police officers standing next to her.
After the banners and placards were confiscated, GMI president Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh read out a press statement which condemned the government's use of the ISA to detain individuals without trial.
gmi masjid jamek 260908 syed ibrahimSyed Ibrahim said that GMI's Hari Raya demands were for the release for all ISA detainees, especially in view that many of these detainees were unable to celebrate Aidilfitri with their loved ones.
"(Their family members) spend Ramadhan and Hari Raya for the sixth or seventh year now without their husbands, fathers or sons," said Syed Ibrahim.
Curious onlookers
He said that many relatives of ISA detainees have lost their sole breadwinners and are still finding it difficult to cope with escalating cost of living. They are also burdened by the high transport costs incurred while visiting the detainees in Kamunting, Perak.
"GMI finds it most unfortunate that the government and the police continue to exert its powers blindly under the guise of the ISA despite being in the blessed month of Ramadhan," he said.
Syed Ibrahim continued his speech for about five minutes and ended just as the police had issued their final warning. However, there were no untoward incidents and arrests.
The small protest drew large crowds of curious lunch-time passerby and mosque-going people. Some of them also bought ‘Anti-ISA' badges from the GMI activists.
gmi masjid jamek 260908 ruben enbu adrian ngTwo colleagues who spent their lunch break at the scene to support GMI's efforts, Adrian Ng and Ruben Emba, told Malaysiakini that they were motivated to support the abolishment of the ISA because of the recent detention of prominent blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin.
"I think Raja Petra's arrest was unfounded and petty. That's why I'm here," said Emba, 30, a consultant.
"He represents freedom of speech. If they can detain a blogger without trial, it means anyone can be next," said Ng, 29, who is also a consultant.
Andrew Ong | Sep 26, 08 2:46pm
Police broke up an attempted leafleting exercise by a group of activists calling for the abolishment of the Internal Security Act (ISA) today.
MCPX
The Abolish ISA Movement (GMI) had attempted to gather near the Masjid Jamek mosque near Dataran Merdeka to distribute leaflets to the public at noon.
gmi masjid jamek 260908 crowdEven before the GMI activists could gather, the police team led by ASP Sydney Clyde Jeremiah warned GMI co-ordinator E Nalini that loud-hailer and placards could not be used in the gathering.
The activists were however defiant and tried to unfurl a large banner and placards opposite the mosque, prompting the police to swiftly move in to remove the ‘offensive' materials.
"We cannot achieve our target of distributing leaflets and creating public awareness because the police confiscated and stole our banners.
"There will not be any leafleting as the police are everywhere and they might confiscate the materials as well," she told Malaysiakini while gesturing to the plainclothes police officers standing next to her.
After the banners and placards were confiscated, GMI president Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh read out a press statement which condemned the government's use of the ISA to detain individuals without trial.
gmi masjid jamek 260908 syed ibrahimSyed Ibrahim said that GMI's Hari Raya demands were for the release for all ISA detainees, especially in view that many of these detainees were unable to celebrate Aidilfitri with their loved ones.
"(Their family members) spend Ramadhan and Hari Raya for the sixth or seventh year now without their husbands, fathers or sons," said Syed Ibrahim.
Curious onlookers
He said that many relatives of ISA detainees have lost their sole breadwinners and are still finding it difficult to cope with escalating cost of living. They are also burdened by the high transport costs incurred while visiting the detainees in Kamunting, Perak.
"GMI finds it most unfortunate that the government and the police continue to exert its powers blindly under the guise of the ISA despite being in the blessed month of Ramadhan," he said.
Syed Ibrahim continued his speech for about five minutes and ended just as the police had issued their final warning. However, there were no untoward incidents and arrests.
The small protest drew large crowds of curious lunch-time passerby and mosque-going people. Some of them also bought ‘Anti-ISA' badges from the GMI activists.
gmi masjid jamek 260908 ruben enbu adrian ngTwo colleagues who spent their lunch break at the scene to support GMI's efforts, Adrian Ng and Ruben Emba, told Malaysiakini that they were motivated to support the abolishment of the ISA because of the recent detention of prominent blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin.
"I think Raja Petra's arrest was unfounded and petty. That's why I'm here," said Emba, 30, a consultant.
"He represents freedom of speech. If they can detain a blogger without trial, it means anyone can be next," said Ng, 29, who is also a consultant.
